"The forr public prosecution agency, Trevela City’s temporary prosecutor’s office."
The temporary court was set up in the hall of the Magic Technology Museum. Hastily, they adorned it with the emblem and banners of the Crystal Tower. The mages summoned spells to oversee the judicial area, and with a few rows of folding chairs and desks, a simple courtroom was ford.
Li Aozi bowed his head, feeling bored. Behind him, two Golem Judiciary officers pressed firmly on his shoulders, as if fearing he might escape from this Higgs Field-encased court.
The judge adjusted his monocle and continued reading:
"Attached civil lawsuit, plaintiff, Baizhu Star Departnt of Education,"
"Forr defendant, Leoz, biologically male, self-identified as male, Tanas Clan, 22 years old, registered from Trevela City, undergraduate education. A forr third-year student at Baizhu Interstellar University, Magic Application Academy. Ascender of the ’Sovereign’ pathway, Zeta Rank (6). Four days prior, criminal detention was imposed, sentenced to 270 years imprisonnt, reduced to 270 years due to good behavior and significant ritorious service, serving in Baizhu Star."
"Defense attorney, Rosian, law professor at Baizhu Interstellar University Faculty of Humanities."
"Trevela City’s summary court has decided on the charges brought forth by the Trevela City temporary prosecutor’s office against defendant Leoz for illegal entry, forgery of docunts, carrying forbidden pathway knowledge into the country, possession of Implant Gear Vanguard, and refugee trafficking. Decision (12166), Special Criminal Judgnt No. 1, concluded:"
"1. Defendant Leoz is guilty of illegal entry, sentenced to twenty years imprisonnt, and fined six hundred sixty thousand Dina."
"2. Defendant Leoz is guilty of impersonation and forgery, participating in the Magic Aptitude Test with a false identity and obtaining student status, sentenced to 100 years imprisonnt. Student status retained until the end of the prison term."
"3. Defendant Leoz..."
As the judge listed each charge, Li Aozi, standing in the dock, maintained a calm and indifferent deanor.
Thanks to his previous honest confession, both Dean Nastisha and the battlefield-cleaning mage had been lenient towards him.
His defense was even handled by a law professor from Baizhu Interstellar University itself.
In the evidence collection stage, Li Aozi not only presented the captured Arcane Energy of the ’Canyue,’ but also a significant amount of remains from Citizens of the chanical World to vindicate himself. As for the Implant Gear Vanguard, he openly displayed it, allowing the mage to compare it with the Implants from ’Canyue.’
In terms of witnesses, Li Aozi had an overwhelming advantage.
Besides Dean Nastisha, who was already on his side, players, Sofia Malin, the Fairy of the Lake, and three captured councilors of the chanical World all testified to Li Aozi’s resistance against ’Canyue’ and the ’chanical World Society.’
Unexpectedly, a student he had saved from ’Canyue’ also appeared in court to testify in his favor.
Unsurprisingly, he was acquitted of criminal charges, and the Crystal Tower, recognizing his remarkable contributions, no longer pursued him for his previous actions.
However, due to procedural constraints, Li Aozi was not released imdiately. He still needed so ti to settle the civil compensation. Once his assets in Newbie Village were liquidated, he could be released from the detention center – a process that would take at most two weeks, equivalent to paying a ransom to avert disaster. His past criminal records would no longer be brought up. Shortly thereafter, an official docunt was issued, requesting Newbie Village to pay the overdue taxes for the recent months.
Henceforth, his domain would no longer be an illegal refugee settlent but a legitimate administrative village. Upon his release, he would even receive a lordship appointnt.
The Crystal Tower civilization had no concept of nobility. The term ’lord’ was similar to a farm owner or landlord.
For Li Aozi, this was undoubtedly the best outco.
He had already maxed out his Legendary Degree on Baizhu Star. Now that Newbie Village was officially legalized, he could continuously attract players from various places.
It seed he had lost so Dina, but Li Aozi’s account was mostly in Ammonium Gold, resulting in minimal losses with significant future benefits.
Moving forward, he could boldly engage in black market activities and lure players from the nearest Ajincour server.
Long ago, fraudulent groups would harvest organs. Now, the Li Clan would trick players. Though not happening at the sa ti, the thods were similar.
"When you do the right thing on a large scale, the whole world stands by your side."
In the detention room, Li Aozi could not help but sigh.
"You truly are at ease."
A female voice with a mocking tone followed. Li Aozi imdiately sat upright, looking towards the inspection window, respectfully lowering his head and said:
"Dean Nastisha, thank you for testifying on my behalf."
"Don’t give that, kid. I told you to stay put, yet you suddenly ran out, almost disrupting my plans."
Outside the inspection window, Dean Nastisha raised a hand, and magic imdiately ford a chair. She leisurely leaned back, resting her face on her hand. Though her words were stern, her expression seed quite pleased.
"Ah, not listening to the teacher’s advice results in imdiate suffering – see, now I’m detained." Li Aozi chuckled. "Thankfully, Dean Nastisha’s arrangents were ticulous. My rash behavior really needs to change in the future."
They were only one rank apart. Setting aside age and the teacher-student difference, their conversation was conducted with an equal tone.
"Dean, what happened to those three councilors in the end?"
"They were taken by higher scholars from the Supre Council. They’re likely to beco experintal subjects. Due to the planet’s antibodies, the ’chanical World Society’ won’t approach Baizhu Star for hundreds of years. Hence, these councilors have beco markers for Mashigang. According to Starry Abyss tradition, we will find ways to use these three chanical World Councilors to draw Mashigang into a black hole, which can trap them for a long ti."
Li Aozi was not surprised by this outco.
After all, the ’chanical World Society’ was still nearby. If outsiders captured their councilors, they might think of continually attacking or sealing them away.
The Crystal Tower was a pragmatic civilization. Drawing the ’Society’ into a black hole was a good choice.
"Speaking of which, your detention might actually be a good thing."
Nastisha reminded:
"Since you are an Ascender of the ’Sovereign’ pathway and have achieved the great feat of repelling the ’chanical World Society,’ we should give you the Tanas Hero dal. However, the situation now is unique, so detention might be a form of protection for you."
"I understand," Li Aozi nodded. "It’s about the war, isn’t it?"
"It’s complicated. Firstly, Minister Balkmon is still engaging in combat with Night Butterfly Man’s chanical Legion, with a high possibility of capturing their Kappa Rank (10)."
Li Aozi was about to say that capturing such a high-level decisive battle weapon was a good thing, but then he suddenly realized sothing:
"—Wait, how many days has it been?"
Li Aozi counted on his fingers:
"From my repelling the ’chanical World Society’ to now, it’s been six full days – six days. Hasn’t Night Butterfly Man and the Supre Council dispatched reinforcents?"
Upon hearing this, Nastisha looked at him and smiled without speaking.
Li Aozi sensed sothing and frowned, asking:
"Setting aside others, hasn’t the Crystal Tower’s support arrived?"
In the next mont, Nastisha calmly said:
"Without troops, what reinforcents can there be?"
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